SYDNEY FC BECOME FIRST A-LEAGUE TEAM TO TOUR EUROPE WITH THREE-WEEK PRE-SEASON TOUR TO ITALY

Sydney FC will become the first Hyundai A-League club to tour Europe after confirming a three-week pre-season tour to Italy that includes a match against Alessandro Del Piero’s first professional football club Padova.

The Sky Blues will fly out for Italy on 2 August and will be based in the Adriatic Sea town of Jesolo, one hour outside Venice, for the duration of the camp.

Every member of the Sydney FC first team will take part in the tour, which will include five matches, with marquee star Alessandro Del Piero joining his Sky Blues team mates in Venice.

“This is a very exciting tour for Sydney FC and an excellent opportunity to further enhance our brand recognition in Europe,” said Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow.

“The eyes of Italy will be on Sydney FC, the A-League and Australian football with Alessandro returning home.

“Sydney FC is always striving to break new ground for Australian football and the global attention Alessandro has generated for Sydney FC and the A-League will reach another level during the three weeks in Italy,” Mr Barlow said.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said: “As the premier State for major events and sports, I’m delighted that Sydney FC will represent Australia’s global city in Europe. It will be great to see the Sydney.com logo on Sydney FC’s shirts, on their tour of Italy.”

The tour also forms an important part of Sydney FC Coach Frank Farina’s pre-season campaign as the Sky Blues look to hit the ground running when they face Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League season opener at Allianz Stadium on 11 October.

“This tour is fantastic for what we are trying to achieve during pre-season,” Mr Farina said.

“Three weeks in Italy gives us a tremendous opportunity to get away with the entire squad and focus on implementing our football style and also allows us some quality matches in a different environment that will test the players.”

The Sydney FC players will return to Australia on 23 August and will be given a one-week break before embarking on the final stages of pre-season training on 2 September.

The 2012-13 Sydney FC Memberships are now on sale with public transport to and from the game from all over Sydney covered in the Membership price.

Purchase your 2012-13 Sydney FC Membership by calling call (02) 8314 5100 or visit footballaustralia.com.au/sydneyfc/membership